Selectboard Regular Meeting Monday, April 17, 2023

Minutes approved on May 1st, 2023
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BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Angela Sanborn, Jeffrey Chevalier, Ann Golob.
Absent: Mike Fitzpatrick and Katy Johnson-Aplin.

OTHERS PRESENT:   Austin Rice (BCTV) and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant.) Deborah Luskin (Moderator)
Zoom:  Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), and Kate Gehring (Planning Commission).

CALL TO ORDER: 
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Selectboard Chair Angela Sanborn.

CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED:
Powling confirmed the meeting had been properly warned.

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA:  
Powling requested the May 3rd regular meeting minutes be corrected to April 3rd regular meeting minutes.
Golob requested that the Hazard Mitigation Plan Review letter from Margo Ghia be added to the old business.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

  1. March 20, 2023, regular meeting minutes. (Tabled until May 1st)
  2. April 3rd, 2023, regular meeting minutes.

Chevalier made a motion to accept the April 3rd, 2023, minutes. Golob seconded the motion. Motion passed 3/0.

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

  1. On Friday, we discovered the stone culvert on Wiswall Hill was starting to collapse; I have a meeting tomorrow with the River Engineer and VTRANS to decide how to proceed with the repair of it or replacement.
  2. We have a draft of the ACT 250 permit application from Bill Jewell, and we are reviewing it to answer questions in the application.
  3. This is the year we would paint the white lines on the blacktop. Do you want me to get pricing on this?
  4. I have not heard back from Ron Bell for the Sand/Salt or the Eddy Rd. culvert.
  5. Bids were received last week for the Depot Rd. box culvert; the engineer is analyzing the bids and will have a recommendation for the state shortly. We had two bidders.

Golob made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s report, and Chevalier seconded.

Discussion:

#2 Act 250 Permit; shared testing results of the sound study that was done for the application permit process.
Golob made a motion to contact a homeowner near the Gravel Pit to obtain a letter of support. Chevalier seconded. Motion passed 3/0.

#3 Line Striping; Wilson was given the approval to seek prices for the bi-annual stripping and report back to the Selectboard.
Sanborn asked if there was any need to place the “No Parking” signs along RT 30 near the swimming area and along Depot Road due to the road construction and previously expressed concerns about parking in that area. Wilson will follow up with VTrans.

The vote was called. Motion passed 3/0.

Amendment to move # 7 from Old Business while the Road Foreman was present.
Cleanup of Property at 521 VT RT30, Newfane (allow Wilson to provide impute)
Discussion:
Golob shared information obtained from (DEC) the Department of Environmental Conservation with the Selectboard.

  • Who is responsible for debris cleanup?
  • Contaminated soil removal?
  • What action can the town take?
  • Wait for the probate court to act.
  • Tax Sale

Golob offered to contact VLCT and get further advice for the Selectboard.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT: 

  1. The Personal Policy is available tonight for readopting and the Selectboard signatures.
  2. April 17th -23rd is recognized as National Volunteer Week. This was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each year; Newfane has a wonderful base of volunteers that make a positive and meaningful change in our community.
    I want to say, Thank you for your service!
  3. Maxwell Vandervliet is willing to accept the appointment to the Windham Regional Commission.
  4. The Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Floodplain and River Corridor Bylaw revision is scheduled for Thursday, April 27th, at 6 pm at the Town Office. They are asking Selectboard to attend this hearing.

Chevalier made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistant’s report. Golob seconded the motion.

Discussion:

#3 The Appointment to Windham Regional.
Golob made the motion to appoint Maxwell Vandervliet as Newfane’s Representative to the Windham Regional Commission. Chevalier seconded the motion. Motion passed 3/0.

#4 Planning Commission Public Hearing on Thursday, April 27th.
Sanborn, Golob, and Chevalier confirmed that they would attend the hearing. Powling was asked to check with Johnson-Aplin and Fitzpatrick to see if they would be available to attend.

The vote was called. Motion passed 3/0.

 

COMMITTEE REPORT

Traffic Calming Committee (TCC) updates (Chevalier).
The next meeting of the TCC will be Wednesday, May 3rd, at 6 pm at the Town Office.
Golob asked if the information from Windham Regional Commission (WRC) on the VT Department of Health pilot project, walk-ability in communities with pedestrian improvements was shared with the Committee. Wilson and Chevalier confirmed that the information was shared and that someone would do further research for the TCC.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
None

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
None

OLD BUSINESS:
Cannabis Updates: (Johnson-Aplin)
None

Town Beautification (Chevalier)
Discussion:

There are five judges for the finished construction of benches. Wilson agreed with the cost for the installation of the benches at the proposed locations.

  • Contact members of the Conservation Commission for the Town Forrest location.
  • Judge Barnett for the Newfane Common.
  • Williamsville Hall Committee.
  • Two benches along Dover Road on Riverside.
  • Town Office out front.

Still need to complete the following steps to move the project.

  • Press Release.
  • Submit Ideas and applications.

Chevalier made a motion to allocate $15,000 from ARPA funds for this project. Golob seconded the motion. Motion passed 3/0.

Discuss ideas for a 250-year celebration of Newfane’s founding. (Johnson-Aplin) – None

Due to remote connective issues
Planning Commission updates- Kate Gehring.

Public Hearing for the Floodplain and River Corridor Bylaw revision is scheduled for Thursday, April 27th, at  6 pm at the Town Office. Alyssa Sabetto from WRC (Windham Regional Commission) and John Gifford- Campbell will attend the hearing.
Discussion:  The Planning Commission was interested in looking at Google Suite and whether the Selectboard was using it. Also interested in having separate PC emails instead of using their personal email for PC business. Powling mentioned that Bahman Madhavi could help to arrange that, using individual names.

The Planning Commission asked to be the appointee for the Bylaw Modernization Grant.
Golob made a motion to define that the Planning Commission as the appointed organizer, overseer of the Bylaw Modernization Grant, working with WRC. Chevalier seconded the motion.
The purpose of applying for the grant was to review and expand the zoning laws to increase housing. The Planning Commission will work with WRC directly on this.
Motion passed 3/0. 

FEMA Buy-Out of the South Newfane General Store – (Golob)
No updates from FEMA.
Golob asked to address the concerns of the underground storage tanks. The concerns are that FEMA may not approve the project if the tanks are not removed and for Environmental reasons. Options were suggested to move forward with reviewing the funding for Phase One (research history of the tanks) and Phase Two remediation of the property.

  • Participation in Vermont’s environmental liability limitation program (BRELLA) provides a way out of the liability legal and financial risks associated with contamination.
  • WRC has funds to help cover the cost of the Insurance.
  • Various resources of funding may be available.
    Golob made a motion to apply for BRELLA Insurance and to authorize Chair Sanborn to sign the application. Chevalier seconded the motion. Motion passed 3/0.

ARPA: (Sanborn and Golob)
None

SHOULD SOCIAL APPROPRIATIONS BE COMBINED
This is a continuing discussion for the Town and Selectboard to decide whether to keep social appropriations separate or combine.

Deborah Luskin wondered if three or four articles were still required by state law for the Town Meeting Warning and recommended that placement of Town Budgets Articles be ahead of Social Appropriations. Luskin mentioned that she would consult VLCT for clarification on the required Articles needed for the Warning.

Discussion ensued.

HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE

The Selectboard received an e-mail from Margo Ghia from WRC with a copy of the draft plan. Please review the plan and respond with your comments by April 28th. This information has been shared with the Planning Commission.

NEW BUSINESS –
None

CORRESPONDENCE:
Morris Ale Dancers wrote a letter asking permission to have parts of West St closed during Memorial Day weekend, Sunday, May 28th, between 4:30 -6:30 pm.

Golob made a motion to approve the request, and Chevalier seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0.
Sanborn asked Powling to contact the Morris Ale Dancers to inform them that the Selectboard approved their request and to remind them that they would still need to contact the Court for their permission to use the Court’s property.

CMAG Consulting, LLC – sent an introduction letter to help find funding opportunities, complete the funding process, and manage and report the progress to state or federal agencies.
Discussion: Selectboard did not believe there was a current need for services and agreed to keep the letter on file.

Selectboard meeting suspended at 7:02 pm to open Board of Liquor Control.
The Board of Liquor Control Adjourned at 7:03 pm. Resumed Selectboard meeting.

 

PAY ORDERS
Payroll Warrant # 11616                                Amount $       6.085.57
Payroll Warrant # 11617                                Amount $       4,516.76
Account Payable # 23024                              Amount $     66,103.17

Chevalier made a motion to approve Pay Orders. Golob seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0.

ADJOURN:
Golob made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,
Wannetta Powling, Administrative Assistant